The Fable of the Tarsier

by Barry J. Northern

Why not listen along to the Fable of the Tarsier as you read? Just click the play button below or download the MP3.
A tarsier sat upon his branch, chewing on a large cricket he had just caught. A warm jungle breeze rustled the leaves about him, and above, stars twinkled through the forest canopy.
He heard approaching footsteps on the branch and swivelled his head, fixing his large eyes upon a brother hurrying towards him. The younger tarsier waved his arms and chirruped. So hurried was Chirrup that Cricket-Catcher did not at first understand his words.
“... coming ... quick ... coming ... this big.”
Cricket-Catcher smiled around a mouthful of food as he watched Chirrup extend his little arms as wide as his slight frame would allow.
“Big, eh?”
Chirrup jumped up and down and nodded. “Yes, yes. Big it is. Quick.”
“Quick too?”
“No, no quick, we must go.”
“Where? I've just caught this cricket. I'm not moving.”
This sent Chirrup into another frenzy of arm-waving and high-pitching singing. “... coming ... big ... snake.”
This caught Cricket-Catcher's attention. “A snake? A big snake is coming?”
Chirrup sighed and deflated. “Yes.”
“Relax. Snakes are slow.”
Cricket-Catcher spotted a Striped Tree Frog sneaking up the tree's wide bole below him. Finishing off his cricket, his mind already on his next meal, he spoke idly to Chirrup whilst eyeing the frog. “You know, those are clever little things. Tasty though. Worth catching. Can't leap as well as us. I saw one in the morning once, just before going to bed.”